Geography Curriculum Map
KS1
learning
intentions
• Investigate the world’s continents and oceans.
• Investigate the countries and capitals of the United Kingdom.
• Compare and contrast a small area of the United Kingdom with that of a non-European country.
• Explore weather and climate in the United Kingdom and around the world.
• Use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to and describe key physical and human features of locations.
• Use world maps, atlases and globes.
• Use simple compass directions.
• Use aerial photographs.
Year 1
• Use fieldwork and observational skills
A1 Harvest; To investigate
Sp1 Kings & Queens
patterns
• Identify land use around
the school.
use simple fieldwork and
observational skills to study the
geography of their school and its
grounds and the key human and
physical features of its
surrounding environment.
Su1 Pirates (Seaside) to investigate
places
• Use world maps, atlases and
globes to identify the United
Kingdom and its countries, as
well as the countries, continents
and oceans studied.
• Name and locate the world’s
continents and oceans.
• Use compass directions (north,
south, east and west) and
locational language (e.g. near
and far) to describe the location
of features and routes on a map.
name and locate the world’s seven
continents and five oceans 
Geography Curriculum Map
A2 Light & Dark
Sp2 Countries & Cultures; To
investigate patterns
• Understand geographical
similarities and differences
through studying the human
and physical geography of a
small area of the
United Kingdom and of a
contrasting nonEuropean country.
key physical features, including:
beach, cliff, coast, forest, hill, mountain,
sea, ocean, river, soil, valley,
vegetation, season and weather
use simple compass directions
(North, South, East and West) and
locational and directional language [for
example, near and far; left and right], to
describe the location of features and
routes on a map 
use aerial photographs and plan
perspectives to recognise landmarks
and basic human and physical features;
devise a simple map; and use and
construct basic symbols in a key
Su2 Where I live; to investigate places
• Ask and answer geographical
questions (such as: What is this
place like? What or who will I see
in this place? What do people do in
this place?).
• Identify the key features of a
location in order to say whether it is
a city, town, village, coastal or rural
area.
• Use simple fieldwork and
observational skills to study the
geography of the school and the
key human and physical features of
its surrounding environment.
• Use aerial images and plan
perspectives to recognise landmarks
and basic physical features.
• Name, locate and identify
characteristics of the four countries
and capital cities of the
United Kingdom and its surrounding
seas.
Geography Curriculum Map
name, locate and identify
characteristics of the four countries and
capital cities of the United Kingdom and
its surrounding seas
key human features, including: city,
town, village, factory, farm, house,
office, port, harbour and shop 
use world maps, atlases and globes
to identify the United Kingdom and its
countries, as well as the countries,
continents and oceans studied at this
key stage
Geography Curriculum Map
KS1
learning
intentions
• Investigate the world’s continents and oceans.
• Investigate the countries and capitals of the United Kingdom.
• Compare and contrast a small area of the United Kingdom with that of a non-European country.
• Explore weather and climate in the United Kingdom and around the world.
• Use basic geographical vocabulary to refer to and describe key physical and human features of locations.
• Use world maps, atlases and globes.
• Use simple compass directions.
• Use aerial photographs.
Year 2
• Use fieldwork and observational skills
A1 Transport; to communicate
Sp1 Heroes
geographically 
use simple fieldwork and
observational skills to study the
geography of their school and its
grounds and the key human and
physical features of its
surrounding environment.
• Devise a simple map;
and use and
construct basic symbols in
a key. Use simple
grid references (A1, B1).
Su1 India? Africa? Countries in the
news; to communicate
geographically
• Use basic geographical
vocabulary to refer to:
• key physical features,
including: beach, coast, forest,
hill, mountain, ocean, river, soil,
valley, vegetation, season and
weather.
• key human features,
including: city, town, village,
factory, farm, house, office and
shop.
Geography Curriculum Map
A2 Animals
Sp2 Buildings (Great Fire of London)
Su2 Water
• Identify seasonal and daily
weather patterns in the United
Kingdom and the location of hot
and cold areas of the world in
relation to the Equator and the
North and South Poles.
Geography Curriculum Map
Year 3
learning
intentions
• Identify key geographical features of the countries of the United Kingdom, and show an understanding of how some of these
aspects have changed over time.
• Locate the geographic zones of the world.
• Understand the significance of the geographic zones of the world.
• Understand geographical similarities and differences through the study of human and physical geography of a region or area
of the United Kingdom (different from that taught at Key Stage 1).
Year 3
A1 The Victorians
Sp1 Me and my World; to investigate Su1 The UK (The Great in GB) To
places
investigate places
• An excellent knowledge of
• Ask and answer geographical
where places are and what
questions about the physical and
they are like.
human characteristics of a
location.
• Explain own views about
locations, giving reasons.
• Explain own views about
locations, giving reasons.
• Use maps, atlases, globes
and digital/computer mapping
• Use fieldwork to observe and
to locate countries and
record the human and physical
describe features.
features in the local area using a
• Name and locate the
range of methods including
countries of Europe
sketch maps, plans and
and identify their main
graphs and digital technologies.
physical and
• Use a range of resources to
human characteristics.
identify the key physical and

human features of a location.
locate the world’s countries,
using maps to focus on Europe
• Name and locate counties and
(including the location of Russia)
cities of the United
and North and South America,
concentrating on their
Kingdom, geographical regions
environmental regions, key physical
and their identifying human and
and human characteristics,
physical characteristics, including
Geography Curriculum Map
countries, and major cities
hills, mountains, cities, rivers,
key topographical features and
land-use patterns;
and understand how some of
these aspects have changed over
time.
name and locate counties and cities
of the United Kingdom, geographical
regions and their identifying human and
physical characteristics, key
topographical features (including hills,
mountains, coasts and rivers), and landuse patterns; and understand how some
of these aspects have changed over
time 
use maps, atlases, globes and
digital/computer mapping to locate
countries and describe features studied
A2 Natural Disasters; To
communicate geographically
• Describe key aspects of:
• physical geography,
including:
rivers, mountains,
volcanoes and earthquakes
and the water cycle. 
physical geography,
including: climate zones, biomes
and vegetation belts, rivers,
mountains, volcanoes and
earthquakes, and the water
cycle 
Sp2 Dinosaurs and Cavemen
Su2 Maps; to investigate patterns
• Name and locate the Equator,
Northern Hemisphere, Southern
Hemisphere, the Tropics of
Cancer and Capricorn, Arctic and
Antarctic Circle and date time
zones. Describe some of
the characteristics of these
geographical areas.
• Describe geographical
similarities and
differences between countries.
• Describe how the locality of the
Geography Curriculum Map

school has changed over time. 
identify the position and significance of
latitude, longitude, Equator, Northern
Hemisphere, Southern Hemisphere, the
Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, Arctic and
Antarctic Circle, the Prime/Greenwich
Meridian and time zones (including day and
night) 
use maps, atlases, globes and
digital/computer mapping to locate countries
and describe features studied 
use the eight points of a compass, four and
six-figure grid references, symbols and key
(including the use of Ordnance Survey maps)
to build their knowledge of the United
Kingdom and the wider world 
use fieldwork to observe, measure, record
and present the human and physical features
in the local area using a range of methods,
including sketch maps, plans and graphs, and
digital technologies.
Geography Curriculum Map
Year 4
learning
intentions
• Describe and understand key aspects of:
• human geography, including: settlements, land use, economic activity including trade
links and the distribution of natural resources including energy, food, minerals and
water supplies.
Year 4
A1 Romans
Sp1 Chocolate; to communicate
geographically
• human geography,
including: settlements and
land use.
• Use the eight points of a
compass, four-figure grid
references, symbols and key
to communicate knowledge of
the United Kingdom and the
wider world.
human geography, including:
types of settlement and land use,
economic activity including trade
links, and the distribution of natural
resources including energy, food,
minerals and water 
use maps, atlases, globes and
digital/computer mapping to locate
countries and describe features
Su1 Water and rivers
Geography Curriculum Map
studied .
A2 Me and my body
Year 5
learning
intentions
Sp2 Ancient Egypt
Su2 Animals around the world
• Understand geographical similarities and differences through the study of human and physical geography of a region or area in a
European country.
• Understand geographical similarities and differences through the study of the human and physical geography of a region or area
within North or South America.
• Describe and understand key aspects of:
• physical geography, including: climate zones, biomes and vegetation belts, rivers,
Geography Curriculum Map
mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes and the water cycle
• Use fieldwork to observe, measure and record the human and physical features in the local area using a range of methods,
including sketch maps, plans and graphs and digital technologies.
Year 5
A1 Anglo Saxons and Vikings
Sp1 Journey into Space
Su1 Where animals and plants live; To
investigate patterns
• Identify and describe the
geographical significance of latitude,
longitude, Equator, Northern
Hemisphere, Southern
Hemisphere, the Tropics of Cancer
and Capricorn, Arctic and Antarctic
Circle, and time zones (including
day and night).
• Describe and understand key
aspects of:
• physical geography,
including: climate zones, biomes
and vegetation belts,
rivers, mountains, volcanoes and
earthquakes and the water cycle
• human geography, including:
• Create maps of locations
identifying patterns (such as: land
use, climate zones,
population densities, height of land).

A2 Architects and Designers
Sp2 Small or Sprawl; To investigate
places
use the eight points of a
compass, four and six-figure grid
references, symbols and key
• Use different types of
(including the use of Ordnance
fieldwork sampling (random
Survey maps) to build their
and systematic) to observe,
Su2 Ancient Greece
Geography Curriculum Map
knowledge of the United
Kingdom and the wider world 
use fieldwork to observe,
measure, record and present the
human and physical features in
the local area using a range of
methods, including sketch maps,
plans and graphs, and digital
technologies.
measure and record the
human and physical features
in the local area. Record the
results in a range of ways.
• Analyse and give views on
the effectiveness of different
geographical representations
of a location (such as aerial
images compared with maps
and topological maps - as in
London’s Tube map).
• Name and locate some of the
countries and cities of the world
and their identifying human and
physical characteristics,
including hills, mountains, rivers,
key topographical features and
land-use patterns; and
understand how some of these
aspects have changed over time.
Year 6
learning
intentions
• Use maps, atlases, globes and digital/computer mapping to locate countries and describe features studied.
• Use the eight points of a compass, four-figure grid references, symbols and keys (including the use of Ordnance Survey maps) to
build knowledge of the United Kingdom and the world.
• Use a wide range of geographical sources in order to investigate places and patterns.
• Locate the world’s countries, with a focus on Europe and countries of particular interest to pupils.
• Locate the world’s countries, with focus on North and South America and countries of particular interest to pupils.
Year 6
A1 Tudors
Sp1 World War Two
Su1 Food, Fun and Fitness
• human geography, including:
• Use the eight points of a
compass, four-figure grid
references, symbols and a key
Geography Curriculum Map
(that uses standard Ordnance
Survey symbols) to communicate
knowledge of the United
Kingdom and the world.
use the eight points of a compass,
four and six-figure grid references,
symbols and key (including the use of
Ordnance Survey maps) to build their
knowledge of the United Kingdom and
the wider world
A2 North or South America; To
investigate places
• Name and locate the
countries of North
and South America and
identify their main
physical and human
characteristics.
• Collect and analyse
statistics and
other information in order
to draw clear
conclusions about
locations.
• Identify and describe how
the physical features affect
the human activity within a
location.
• Use a range of
geographical resources to
give detailed descriptions
Sp2 World War two/Revision
Su2 France; To investigate patterns
• human geography, including:
settlements, land use, economic
activity including trade links, and
the distribution of
natural resources including
energy, food, minerals, and water
supplies.
• Understand some of the reasons
for geographical similarities and
differences between countries.
• Describe how locations around
the world are changing and
explain some of the reasons
for change.
• Describe geographical diversity
across the world.
• Describe how countries and
geographical regions are
Geography Curriculum Map
and opinions of
the characteristic features
of a location.
understand geographical
similarities and differences
through the study of human and
physical geography of a region
of the United Kingdom, a region
in a European country, and a
region within North or South
America
use maps, atlases, globes
and digital/computer mapping to
locate countries and describe
features studied
interconnected and
interdependent.
understand geographical similarities
and differences through the study of
human and physical geography of a
region of the United Kingdom, a region
in a European country, and a region
within North or South America 
use maps, atlases, globes and
digital/computer mapping to locate
countries and describe features studied